Counseling and Wellness

Culver-Stockton College’s Counseling Department believes that you have unique personal traits and talents that have been shaped by your family, school, cultural background and experiences. Thriving in the College environment may mean identifying the strengths you have shown in the past and applying them to current situations. It may also mean helping you let go of old habits you no longer need. Most college students are still developing their coping skills to navigate adulthood and its challenges. We feel that everyone has the potential to develop new skills and strategies for managing life. With the right practice and support, all you need is a willingness to try and believe that change is possible.

The Counseling Department will provide individual counseling to all current students free of charge. At times, specialized or more intensive services may be needed and resources or referrals will be.

Counseling is confidential and this is not only a policy of the department but also an individual’s right that is protected by professional, state and federal laws. All records are kept privately in the counseling office and this information will never be a part of your student record. Without written permission parents, faculty or concerned others will never be told whether or not you have ever had counseling. The only exceptions are extreme situations where the client may be considered a danger to self or others and someone else (i.e., parents or campus safety) may need to be notified to ensure safety or more rarely a court subpoena.

WHO YOU ARE AND HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

From day one, college throws a ton of new experiences, expectations and relationships your way. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be all too easy to forget strengths that brought you to Culver-Stockton in the first place. At the same time, the situations you’ve never encountered before may challenge you to do more than dig deep. You may find yourself making hard decisions and taking on responsibilities that you had not anticipated. Your sense of self expands, without even realizing it; you may be transforming your approach to friendship, family, love, work and how to treat yourself. How to combine the new you and the old you may seem like a tall task. That’s where Counseling Services comes in. We can help you rediscover your perspective and trace how you got from A to Z. Our goal is to create a safe place for you to sit with your feelings, reflect on your thoughts and plan your actions.

HOW TO USE COUNSELING SERVICES

Counseling Services offer individual counseling to all C-SC students. Most sessions are open and unstructured, allowing students the chance to express themselves freely. You and your counselor will discuss what brings you to counseling and help you identify your goals. It is not uncommon for CSC students to experience depression, anxiety or another major mental illness or have come to college already having received counseling in their home town. Many students also seek us out when they are feeling sad, homesick or confused yet anyone can benefit from the discovery process.

Other service provided by the Counseling and Wellness office are consultation to students, faculty and staff. The Director will also help students coordinate their medical or dental care and provide resources for immunizations and family planning. The Director is the adviser of a student group called Health Outreach Peer Educators (H.O.P.E). This peer education group is open to all students interested in providing information and programs to their fellow students on mental health and wellness topics. You are welcome to join at any time during the year.

To get started you will fill out some forms so you can gather your thoughts, which will help with an initial assessment. After talking things over, your counselor will help you clarify your objectives – such as reflecting on relationships or learning coping strategies, then you will work together on treatment goals. You control how the conversation flows, and your counselor will suggest exploring related topics, or practicing new skills. The counselor uses treatment models tailored to the specific needs of each student.

Is counseling confidential?

Yes, absolutely. What you say in a session stays in the session. We are required by professional ethical standards, federal and state laws to protect your privacy. This means that no one – not your parents, friends, relatives, or faculty and staff – will know you are receiving counseling, unless you tell them or provide written consent for us to speak with them. Students may choose to invite family members, friends or significant others to sessions if appropriate to your needs, but even then your personal information will not be disclosed, unless you agree in writing that it would be helpful. Professional counseling protocol does however, allow an exception in confidentiality during an emergency if it is determined you may be in danger of harming yourself or others.

Who is the counselor?

The Director of Counseling Services is Susan Moon. In addition to overseeing mental health and health prevention programs at the College, Ms. Moon sees students on a full-time basis. She received her graduate training in counseling from George Washington University and has extensive experience helping students deal with depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, substance abuse, sexual abuse and grief.

The mission of Culver-Stockton College is to prepare students of promise for a dynamic world through our distinctive experiential curriculum within a supportive learning community founded upon the best values of faith and the human spirit.